Doctor Aphra comic (2020) review: Dangerous business

Same Aphra, new adventures. The first issue of Doctor Aphra’s new comic series feels wonderfully familiar with the promise of change.

The Battle of Hoth is over, but the Empire’s temporary occupation of the planet isn’t.

Though the rebels are long gone, groups of snowtroopers have been left behind to survey the frigid surface and make sure no stray rebels still remain.

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Little do they know there’s something — or someone — much worse lurking among them.

Hey Aphra fans! If you haven’t read the first issue of this new comic series, there are spoilers ahead.

Doctor Chelli Aphra is back, and she’s the same Aphra you know and love … well, mostly. This issue starts with her pulling a classic double-crossing in order to get the upper hand over her enemies. Ah – it feels good to be back.

About those enemies, though? Everyone is her enemy. Except a select few wanderers who she’ll soon join up with to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of retrieving the Rings of Vaale, artifacts that could leave her with a lot of money.

And you know Aphra. When her moral compass is out of sorts, money just happens to be her sole motivator.

There’s just one problem … these rings? Yeah. They’re cursed.

What? Did you really expect your favorite rogue archeologist not to stumble upon a dangerous artifact and promptly decide to go after it anyway?

One issue in, this comic already feels like a healthy mix of old, familiar storytelling and new, interesting characters and events. The writing is fast-paced and clever, and when you pair that with the updated art style, it’s hard not to call it an instant success.

Though Aphra will be teaming up with a set of new faces, one of them just happens to be someone from her past, a former fellow classmate who might not be too happy with the way things are going for her right now. But at this point in the timeline, is anyone?

Aphra and her new crew may be off in search of a few risky artifacts. But it doesn’t matter how far she travels across the galaxy. Her past will still catch up to her. Eventually.

Who’s your favorite new face in this series so far? Who – or what – do you think will return?